Gas-generator.



' Patented Mar. l9, lam. J. TRULLINGEB. I GAS GENERATOR.

A licmon filed June 14, 1900.\

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No. 670,259. v Patented Mar. [9, l90L J. TRULLINGER.

GAS GENERATOR.

{Application filed June 14, 1900., (No Model'.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2L INVENw/e mt nonms FEYERS 0o. Prqorouma. wnsumomm m c.

Patented.Mar. l9, 190i. J. TRULL'INGER.

GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed June 14, 1900,;

3 Sheets Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

dim/Way s ITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES TRULLINGER, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CATONS FOUNDRY & MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

GAS-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 670,259, dated March 19, 1901.

Application filed June 1 1, 1900. Serial-No. 20,313- (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

lie it known that I, JAMES TRULLINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crude-OilGas Generators; and Ido hereby declare the following be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 10 in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in gas-generators, and more particularly relates to generators for producing gas from crude oil.

The main and primary object of the invention is to provide a generator of the character stated which is designed for use in connection with a gas or similar engine, so that the hot exhaust-gases of the same may be used for heating the generator and in turn vaporizing the crude oil as the latter is fed into the generator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas-generator which is so constructed that the gas is produced while the oil is in motion in contradistinction to that class of generator wherein the gas is formed from oil while the latter is in a quiescent state.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the improvements is betterunderstood,the invention consists, substantially, in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as 5 willbe hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a gas-generator 4o constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are horizontal sectional views on the lines 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detailperspeetive view of the cut-off employedin connection with the 5 heater of the generator.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a drum, which is preferably cylindrical, and said drum is provided with an upper head 2, the latter being riveted or otherwise suitably connected to the drum 1. The

latter is also provided with adetachable bottom 3, having a central opening4 and an annular flange 5, thelatterextending outwardly fromthebottom3atrightanglesthereto. The lowerend of the body of thedru m l is provided with an attaching-flange 6, which is L-shaped in cross-section, and said flange is riveted or otherwise suitably connected to sairl body, as clearly shown. By means of the flanges 5 and 6 the top of the drum 1 and the bottom 3 may be bolted or otherwise connected together, and it will thus be seen that said parts are readily separable when such is desired.

Bolted or otherwise suitably connected to the bottom 3 is a heater 7, which heater is preferably in the form of a box and so disposed in relation to the opening 4 as to inclose the latter, and said heater has connected to one of its sides a pipe 8, which in turn is connected to the cylinder of a gas or similar engine for conveying the products of combustion therefrom to the heater 7.

Arranged within the drum 1 is a verticallydisposed flue 9, the lower end of which registers with the opening 4 of said drum, and the upper end of said flue likewise registers with an opening 10, formed in the head 2, and around which opening is arranged the lower end of an exhaust-pipe 11, which discharges into the atmosphere at a suitable point. The flue-9 is provided at its upper and lower ends with attaching-flanges 12, through the medium of which said ends are bolted or otherwise suitably connected to the respective ends of the drum 1, and the flue 11 is likewise provided with an attaching-flange 13 for connecting the same to the head 2. It will be noted,

however, that said head lies between the flanges l2 and 13 and is secured therebetween by-means of bolts 14 or their equivalent,whereby a firm connection is secured between the parts mentioned and the pipe 11 maintained in strict vertical alinement with the flue 9.

Formed integral with the flue 9 is one ora plurality of Vaporizers 15, said Vaporizers being arranged in superimposed relation, but spaced from each other, and said Vaporizers are substantially elliptical in cross-section and entirely surround said flue, the upper surface of each of said Vaporizers being provided with a series of concentric grooves 16. In other words, each vaporizer is practically formed by a circumferentially-expanded portion of the flue. While the Vaporizers are shown as numbering but two, it is obvious that any desired number of the same maybe employed, and interposed between the vaporizers and surrounding the fine 9 is a lower concave-convex collecting-disk 17. The disk 17 at its portion immediately adjacent to the flue 9 is provided with a circular series of dischargeopenings 18, through which any oil dripping upon the collecting-disk 17 may readily pass downwardly to the vaporizer immediately beneath said disk.

An upper collecting-disk 19, similar to the construction of the disk 17, is arranged at a point adjacent to the upper end of the flue 9, which disk is also provided with a series of discharge-openings 20, and said disk 19 is adapted to receive the oil to be vaporized as the same enters the drum 1 through a sightfeed tube 21, preferably of glass, and which tube is connected through a pipe 22 with a suitable oil-supply, a needle-valve 23 being interposed between the tube 21 and the pipe 22 in order to admit the oil to the drum 1 in a fine stream. At this point it will be observed that a suitable air-supply must be provided in order that a suitable quantity of air may be mixed with the oil to produce the combustible vapor, and to this end the drum 1 is provided at one of its sides with a chamber 24, the lower end of which is open, while its upper end is closed, and said chamber discharges into the drum 1 through an opening 25, arranged adjacent to the upper collector 19. It will thus be seen that while the tube 2* permits air to be drawn in through the opening 25 for admixture with the oil said tube at the same time eifects the heating of the air by reason of being arranged at one side of the drum 1, which latter is constantly heated by the exhaust-gases within the box 7.

Disposed within the flue 9 and the heater 7 is a vertically-arranged supporting-rod 26, the lower end of which is fixedly connected to the bottom of the heater 7 by nuts 27, and said rod has its upper end securely held by means of a sleeve 28, carried by a series of radially-arranged arms 29. Fixedly connected to the rod 27 is a series of horizontally-disposed deflecting-plates 30, one of which is arranged within each of the Vaporizers l5, and hence it is obvious that as the exhaust-gases pass upwardly through the flue 9 said gases will impinge upon said plates, and thereby be deflected against the inner walls of the Vaporizers. The vaporizers are thus heated to the required degree for vaporizing the oil as the latter comes in contact therewith, and when thus vaporized and commingled with the air drawn through the opening 25 produces a highly combustible mixture. The mixture thus produced may be led to the engine or other desired point of use through an outlet 31, which is suitably connected to the lower end of the drum 1. The

outlet 31, however, is provided with a screen 32, which is adapted to prevent particles of unvaporized hydrocarbon passing to the engine. The drum 1 is further provided with an opening 33, having a coveringplate 34 bolted or otherwise secured thereover, the

purpose of said opening being to permit easy access being had to the interior of the drum for cleaning the Vaporizers and other interior fittings.

In order to convey the exhaust-gases from the heater-7 when itis desired that said gases should not pass through the flue 9, a reliefpipe 35 is connected to the side of the heater 7 which is opposite to that side to which the pipe 8 is attached, and said relief-pipe may either discharge into the atmosphere or in lieu thereof may discharge into the exhaust-pipe 11 above the drum 1, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and for controlling the exit of the gases from the heater 7 through the pipe 35 an angular damper 36 is employed. The damper 36 is arranged within the heater 7 and comprises a horizontal plate 37 and a vertical plate 38, the latter being adapted to open and close the port leading from the heater 7 into the pipe 35. to open and close the port t, leading to the flue 9; but the opening of the latter port is only designed to take place when the port leading to the pipe 35 is closed, and to this end the opening 4 and the port at which the pipe 35 has access to the heater 7 are arranged out of vertical alinement, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of this arrangement is to cut oif the passage of the exhaust-gases through the flue 9 when the Vaporizers 15 have become too hot and allow said gases to escape through the relief-pipe 35, and vice versa, when such is desired, and for effecting the movements of the cut-off 36 the latter is provided with an operating-rod 39, which rod is suitably connected to the plate 38 and projects through the heater 7, so as to be readily grasped, a stuffing-box 40 surrounding said red at the exterior of the heater. A drip-pipe 41 is connected to the lower portion of the bottom 3 for conveying any oil therefrom which has failed to become vaporized.

The operation of the herein-described invention is as follows: The exhaust-gases from the engine entering the heater 7 raises the temperature of the latter, and with the cutofi 36 positioned shown in Fig. 3 said gases will readily pass into the line 9, with a re sultant. raising of the temperature of the vaporizers 15 until the required degree has been reached. The valve 23 being now opened, oil will immediately be injected into the drum 1 upon the upper collector 19, whereupon the oil descends upon the latter and, commingled with the air which has been drawn into said drum through the opening 25, passes through the openings 20 and descends to the upper vaporizer 15. At this point the oil impinges upon the corrugated upper surface of said vaporizer formed by the concentric grooves 16, and by reason of the heated condition of said surface the oil is vaporized.

The plate 37 is likewise adapted The tendency of that portion of the oil which has not been vaporized is to flow to the edges of said surface; but such movement of the oil is retarded by the grooves 16. If, however, the entire body of oil is not. vaporized and should drip from the upper vaporizer, the lower collector 17 will catch the same and the oil will be discharged through the openings 18 upon the lower vaporizer, where further vaporization takes place; but should any oil drip from the latter the same will be collected in the bottom 3 and there, by reason of the same being heated, will become vaporized. The gas produced as just described will then flow through the exhaust iii to the engine-cylinder. If at any time during the operation of the generator the Vaporizers 15 should become too hot, the flow of the exhaust-gases from the heater 7 through the flue 9 maybe stopped by manipulating the cut-off 36 so that the port 4 is closed and the port leading to the pipe 35 is opened, whereupon the gases will flow from the heater 7' through the pipe 35, and the Vaporizers will thereby be short-circuited. Thus it is evident that the temperature of the Vaporizers may be readily lowered, and when such temperature reaches the desired degree the exhaust-gases may again be permitted to pass into the flue 9, as under ordinary circumstances.

lVhile the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be a preferable embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, and the right is therefore reserved to modify or vary the invention as falls within the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a generator of the class described, an inclosing drum, a flue arranged in the drum, a vaporizer carried by the flue and constituting a part of the passage-Way therethrough, said vaporizer being provided with an exterior corrugated surface, means for directing heat through the passage-way of the flue, and means, within the vaporizer, for deflecting the heat against the inner Wall thereof.

2. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a vaporizer carried by said flue and provided with a corrugated surface, a heater connected to the lower end of said drum and communicating with said flue, a deflector arranged within said flue for deflecting the heat against said vaporizer, and means for feeding oil to the drum.

3. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a vaporizer carried by said flue, a collector also carried by said flue, a heater connected to the lower end of said drum and communicating with the flue, means for feeding oil to the drum, a relief-pipe connected to the heater, and meansfol-controlling com munication between the heater and said flue and relief-pipe.

4. In a generator of the class described, an inrlosing drum, a flue arranged within the drum and having a circumferentially-expanded port ion of an approximately elliptical form in cross-section and forming a vaporizer, said vaporizer being provided upon the upper sloping side thereof with a corrugated surface, means for directing the heat. through the flue, and means, within-the vaporizer, for deflecting the heat against the inner wall thereof.

5. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a vaporizer carried by said flue, said vaporizer being of elliptical cross-sectional area, means for feeding oil to the drum, a collector also carried by said flue for feeding the oil to the vaporizer, and means for heating the drum.

6. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a vaporizer carried by said flue, said vaporizer being of elliptical cross-sectional area, means for-feeding oil to the drum, a collector also carried by said flue for feeding the oil to the vaporizer, means for heating the drum, and means arranged in said flue for deflecting the heat into the vaporizer during the passage of the heat through said flue.

7. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a series of Vaporizers carried by said flue, said vaporizers being of elliptical cross-sectional area, means for feeding oil to said drum, a collector carried by said flue and arranged above said Vaporizers, a second collector also carried by said flue and arranged between said vaporizers, and means for heating said drum.

8. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a series of Vaporizers carried by said flue, said vaporizers being of elliptical cross-sectional area, means for feeding oil to said drum, a collector carried. by said flue and arranged above said Vaporizers, a second collector also carried by said fine and arranged between said vaporizers, means for heating said drum, and deflectors arranged within said flue, whereby the heat passing through said flue is deflected into the Vaporizers.

9. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a series of vaporizers carried by said flue, said Vaporizers being of elliptical cross-sectional area and having their upper surfaces corrugated, means for feeding oil to the drum, a collector carried by said flue and arranged above said Vaporizers, a second collector carried by the flue and arranged between said Vaporizers, said collectors being each provided with a series of discharging-openings for feeding the oil to the Vaporizers, and means for heating the .drum.

10. In a generator of the class described, a

drum, a flue arranged therein, a series of vaporizers carried by said flue, said Vaporizers being of elliptical cross-sectional area and having their upper surfaces corrugated, means for feeding oil to the drum, a collector carried by said flue and arranged above said Vaporizers, a second collector carried by the flue and arranged between said Vaporizers, said collectors being each provided with a series of discharging-openings for feeding the oil to the Vaporizers, and deflectors arranged in said flue, whereby the heat passing therethrough is deflected into the Vaporizers.

11. In a generator of the class described, a drum, a flue arranged therein, a series of vaporizers carried by said flue, said Vaporizers being of elliptical cross-sectional area and each having its upper surface corrugated, means for feeding oil to said dru m, a collector carried by said flue and arranged above said Vaporizers, a second collector also carried by said fine and arranged between said vaporizers, each of said collectors being provided with a series of discharging-openings for feeding the oil to the Vaporizers, aheater arranged at the lower end of said drum and communicating with said flue, deflectors arranged within said flue, whereby the heat is deflected into the Vaporizers, a relief-pipe connected to said heater, and a cut-off for controlling communication between said flue and reliefpipe.

12. In a generator of the class described, an inclosing drum, an upright flue arranged within the drum and having a circumferentially-expanded portion forming a vaporizer which constitutes a part of the flue passageway, the outer wall of the flue and the vaporizer being arranged for the flow of the oil thereover, means for directing the heat through the flue, and means, within the vaporizer, for deflecting the heat against the inner wall thereof.

13. In a generator of the class described, an inclosing drum, an upright flue arranged within the drum and having a vaporizer constituting a part of the flue passage-way, the outer wall of the flue proper and the outer wall of its vaporizer being arranged for the flow of oil thereover, means for directing heat through the interior passage-way of the flue, and separate means for deflecting the heat directly against the inner wall of the flue proper and its vaporizer.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES TRULLINGER.

Witnesses:

S. E1). BAILY, H. JUTsEN. 

